Avastin, Eylea and Lucentis – What's the Difference? | HealthInfi

One of the most frequently debated issues in eye care in recent years has been over three similar treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most severe form of a disease that is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. Here ophthalmologists provide background into why there is so much buzz about the three drugs and what the public should know about their similarities and differences.

Three groundbreaking treatments for wet AMD

In the United States, an estimated 11 million Americans have some form of AMD, which is a disease that erodes central vision, which is necessary for day-to-day activities such as reading, driving and identifying faces. AMD has two forms – wet and dry. While dry AMD leads to a gradual loss of vision, wet AMD leads to faster vision loss and is the most advanced form of the disease. It is responsible for 90 percent of all AMD-related blindness.

A decade ago, wet AMD was considered untreatable and two-thirds of those affected could expect to be legally blind within two years of developing the disease. Today there is a very different story about wet AMD thanks to the introduction of injectable anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs. The usage of anti-VEGF drugs has nearly halved the incidence of AMD-related blindness in some countries, and ophthalmologists are now able to help wet AMD patients maintain – and in some cases restore – vision.

“This class of drugs represents a huge leap in treatment for macular degeneration, and doctors have been blown away by the results,” said Rahul Khurana, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and retina specialist. “Ten years ago, wet AMD was a one-way ticket to blindness, but now I have patients with the condition who are able to read and drive; and some even maintain 20/20 vision.”

There are several anti-VEGF drugs available that are currently used to treat AMD, but three are most commonly used for the condition. Two of these, ranibizumab (brand name Lucentis®) and aflibercept (brand name Eylea®), were designed specifically for the treatment of AMD. A third drug, bevacizumab (brand name Avastin®), was originally developed to treat various types of cancer, but is commonly used “off-label” in patients with AMD.

As doctors and the media debate the relative merits and disadvantages of Avastin, Eylea and Lucentis, the growing collective experience of ophthalmologists indicates that all three are safe and effective treatments for wet AMD.

How do they work?

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow underneath the retina and leak blood or fluid that blurs central vision. A chemical called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, causes this abnormal growth. Anti-VEGF treatments—Lucentis, Eylea and Avastin—work by seeking out harmful VEGF molecules and blocking them. This reduces abnormal growth and leakage, which helps to stabilize vision loss and, in some cases, can improve sight.Read More